Trump Restricts Work Permits: What International Students Need to Know

What does the August 24 memorandum order regarding CPT?

According to Reuters, the document attributes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) the detection of a problem. The SEVP had identified an increase in CPT authorizations that «appear to violate regulatory requirements,» according to that agency.

For the Government, the problem arises when practical training is not part of an established curriculum. The memorandum also warns about the consequences of non-compliance. Universities that do not comply with SEVP rules could lose their institutional certification.

That program falls under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Therefore, any sanctions would directly affect the university’s ability to receive foreign students.

How did UCLA and UC Berkeley respond to the memorandum?

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) suspended certain CPT authorizations. According to a spokesperson for the institution, the university is reviewing the new federal guidelines. In the meantime, it is defining its next steps in response to the measure.

Meanwhile, UC Berkeley’s international office reported that the memorandum is more restrictive than a previous one. That earlier document had been issued in mid-August by the same federal government. According to that office, the new criteria will change how some CPT applications will be processed.

In a statement, Berkeley’s office noted that it is unlikely to process certain applications «in the near future.» For that reason, it urged affected students to plan considering that scenario.

However, the university clarified that it will continue processing other types of cases normally. This includes CPT directly linked to degree requirements. It also announced that it will resume processing CPT for doctoral and master’s theses.

Berkeley added that it will consult with legal experts to adjust its internal processes. The goal is to comply with federal requirements without affecting cases that the university considers valid.

What does the Department of Homeland Security say about the change?

The response from universities contrasted with the federal Government’s position. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) affirmed that regulations have not changed. The DHS is the agency on which ICE depends.

Nonetheless, in that same statement, the DHS defended stricter control over the system. The agency declared that «abuse of this generous system will no longer be tolerated.» With that phrase, the DHS justified greater surveillance over student work authorizations.

At the center of the debate is how the relationship between internships and the academic plan is interpreted. The dispute revolves around whether those authorizations reflect a real requirement of the study program.

How does this relate to other measures against universities?

According to Reuters, the memorandum is part of a broader confrontation by Trump with universities across the country. The president has already subjected several institutions to investigations and funding threats.

Among the reasons are pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s attack on Gaza. Also included are diversity initiatives, climate programs, and policies on transgender people. For that reason, human rights advocates expressed concern about academic freedom and due process.

What other case is a university currently facing regarding discrimination?

On Thursday, the Department of Justice accused a medical school of discrimination in its admissions. According to the agency, the practices of George Washington University’s School of Medicine favored Black and Hispanic applicants.

The university responded that those conclusions are incorrect. The institution asserted that its admissions practices comply with federal law.